ZGram - 8/4/2001 - "Additional detail regarding the charges against Sharon"

[Ingrid Rimland]

Copyright (c) 2001 - Ingrid A. Rimland

ZGram - Where Truth is Destiny

August 4, 2001

Good Morning from the Zundelsite:


Many ZGram readers have written to me for additional detail regarding the
charges against Sharon.  The quickest way to summarize is to ship you this
brief but poignant press release from the Islamic Association of Palestine:

[START]

 (1)     Mallat, Chibli.  Press Release: Re: Case Against PM Sharon in
Belgium. Palos Hills, Ill.:  July 1, 2001.

 (From: Chibli Mallat, Adv., Beirut, June 22, 2001.)

On Monday June 18 2001, at 9.30 am three lawyers filed before an
investigating judge (Madame le juge d'instruction Sophie Huguet), in
Brussels, Belgium, a complaint on behalf of of 28 plaintiffs and witnesses,
all survivors of the Sabra/Shatila massacres.

With this act, a case has been formally opened against Ariel Sharon, Prime
Minister of Israel, on counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and
genocide. Under recent Belgian legislation, introduced in 1993 and modified
in 1999, the possibility of bringing war criminals to account was extended
both in terms of citizenship and time.

Using established legal concepts of universal customary law, Belgian
legislators have set aside limitations of time, citizenship and status:
foreign heads of state can be held accountable for crimes committed before
the recent evolution of international law.

 It is worth remembering that Israel invoked universal customary law when
it tried Eichmann for war crimes, and this case, and that of Demjanjuk in
the US, and others, are cited at length in the complaint.

As Minister of Defence, Sharon planned and directed the 1982 invasion of
Lebanon. When Bashir Gemayel was assassinated on September 14, it was
Sharon who ordered the Israeli Army to penetrate West Beirut and surround
the Sabra/Shatila area. It was Sharon who gave the order for the Lebanese
militias to enter the camps.

The complaint is filed againt Ariel Sharon, Amos Yaron and any Israeli or
Lebanese person responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war
crimes that happened between the 16th and 18th of September, including the
killing, torture, rape and "disappearance" of from 1000 to 3500 civilians -
children and women as well as men, Lebanese as well as Palestinians.

The complaint is based on jus cogens, international and Belgian law. The
full text of the complaint (in French) can be read on
http://www.mallat.com/complaint.htm

 Even though the Kahan Commission judged Sharon "personally responsible"
for the massacre no further legal actions arose from this judgement. With
Sharon's resignation from Defense, Israeli and world public opinion soon
forgot the massacre and its victims.

The 23 plaintiffs and 5 witnesses (the distinction is made for mere
procedural reasons under Belgian law) now accusing Sharon represent a far
larger number of people who have never been recognized as victims nor
indemnified for loss. All the plaintiffs lost close family members, in some
cases mother and father as well as siblings. Reading their testimonials
brings back the horrific scale and character of a massacre that ranks among
the worst of the 20th century.

The plaintiffs are represented by three lawyers: Luc Walleyn, Michael
Verhaeghe, and Chibli Mallat. The day following the formal lodging of the
complaint, Patrick Collignon was formally appointed juge d'instruction to
carry out the enquiry. He will conduct the proceedings, and the enquiry has
officially started.

 The Sabra and Shatila victims and survivors have had their first day in
court.

Chibli Mallat, Adv., Beirut, June 22, 2001.

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Thought for the Day:

"...when the snowball starts to roll, PUSH!!!"  THis is decades overdue!

(Letter to the Zundelsite)